Linear electromagnetic actuator

• US 8,174,344 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yajima, Hisashi, Fujiwara, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US12/699,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 335/222, 335229-234, 310/12, 310 1224- 1226, 310/12.31
• US Class Current: 335/222
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/0356 moving along a straight path
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/08 Structural association with bearings

Abstract

First and second projections are formed to protrude toward a guide rail from both sides of a slide table. Third and fourth projections are formed to protrude toward the slide table from both sides of the guide rail. A plurality of balls are arranged in clearances between the first and second projections and the third and fourth projections.

Claims

1. A linear electromagnetic actuator for displacing a movable section including permanent magnets by a thrust force generated by allowing a current to flow through a coil of a fixed section, wherein

said movable section has a first yoke for supporting said permanent magnets,

said fixed section has a second yoke for supporting said coil facing said permanent magnets while being separated therefrom,

a first projection and a second projection are formed on both sides of said first yoke protruding toward said second yoke and extending in a direction of displacement of said movable section,

a third projection and a fourth projection are formed on both sides of said second yoke protruding toward said first yoke and extending along directions parallel to said first projection and said second projection,

said first projection and said second projection are slightly separated from said second yoke,

a first guide member is interposed between said first projection and said second yoke, and

a second guide member is interposed between said second projection and said second yoke,

wherein each of said first guide member and said second guide member is composed of a plurality of rolling members, and a part of said rolling members are first rolling members composed of magnetic members.

2. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said first rolling members are steel balls or cylindrical members whose axial direction is the same as said direction of displacement of said movable section.

3. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein

each of said first guide member and said second guide member comprises said first rolling members and second rolling members composed of nonmagnetic members, and

said first and second rolling members are arranged alternately along said direction of displacement of said movable section.

4. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 3, wherein said second rolling members are spherical members, cylindrical members, or a plurality of spherical members or cylindrical members which are integrally connected to each other by rod-shaped members composed of nonmagnetic members.

5. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein each of said first guide member and said second guide member is constructed by a plurality of first rolling members composed of magnetic members which are arranged in a plurality of holes formed at predetermined intervals in plate members or rods composed of nonmagnetic members.

6. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said coil has a width which is wider than that of said permanent magnets.

7. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said first yoke and said second yoke have wall thicknesses which are smaller than widths of said permanent magnets in said direction of displacement.

8. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein grooves, which accumulate dust composed of magnetic members, are formed in the vicinity of said first guide member and said second guide member of said first yoke and said second yoke.

9. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 8, wherein

projections, which protrude in directions perpendicular to said direction of displacement of said movable section, are formed on both sides of said first yoke, and

said grooves are formed at portions of said projections facing said second yoke, portions of said first projection and said second projection facing said second yoke, and portions of said second yoke facing said projections and said first and second projections respectively.

10. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein a fastening member, which prevents said first guide member and said second guide member from falling out, is arranged on one end of said second yoke, and a fastening member, which prevents said first guide member and said second guide member from falling out, is arranged on the other end of said second yoke.

11. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 10, wherein

a stopper is arranged on said other end of said second yoke, and

an end block and a stopper, which limit displacement of said movable section in cooperation with said stopper, are arranged on said first yoke.

12. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 10, wherein a plate-shaped member, which is capable of making abutment against said first guide member and said second guide member disposed at said one end of said second yoke when said movable section is displaced toward said other end of said second yoke, is arranged on said first yoke.

13. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein said permanent magnets are arranged along said direction of displacement of said movable section.

14. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein screw holes, which fix said fixed section or said movable section to another member, are formed in said fixed section or said movable section.

15. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein

a scale is arranged on a surface of said first yoke on a side of said second yoke,

an encoder is arranged on said second yoke facing said scale, and

said encoder receives reflected light with respect to light emitted toward said scale when said movable section is displaced so that a displacement amount of said movable section is calculated based on an amount of said reflected light.

16. The linear electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein

support members, which are substantially U-shaped in cross section, are disposed on each of said first yoke and said second yoke, a first pair of said support members being arranged at portions on said first and second projections such that openings of said first pair of support members face inwardly, and a second pair of said support members being arranged on portions of said third and fourth projections such that openings of said second pair of support members face outwardly in confronting relation to the openings of said first pair of support members, and

said first guide members and said second guide members are disposed between said first pair of support members and said second pair of support members.